Overview

• The six-page strategy from Lars Klingbeil and Bärbel Bas would prioritize EU-made steel in public procurement for infrastructure, energy and defense projects.
• The paper seeks tougher trade defenses, including import quotas, higher tariffs, anti-circumvention measures and a comprehensive EU ban on Russian steel.
• The government says an industrial electricity price is being prepared subject to Commission clearance, with firms to gain certainty early next year and reimbursement planned via the 2027 budget.
• Money from the federal Climate and Transformation Fund is set to be mobilized to aid decarbonization and job security alongside stronger collective bargaining coverage and co-determination.
• The initiative aligns with an October steel summit called by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, while EU officials weigh tighter import limits and higher duties to counter cheap Chinese supply.